DARLINGTON Mowden Park have started 2015 in scintillating style, and Danny Brown believes they can complete the transformation from relegation candidates to a side with designs on the leading pack - provided they can beat Hartpury College today.

Ten points separate Mowden from Hartpury, who were promoted to National League One alongside the Darlington side, but Brown is confident that they can plug that gap starting with victory today.

“It’s a strange league, you can be anywhere in the league and anyone can beat anyone – it sounds like a cliché but the way we’ve turned it round does prove that point,” said Brown, who brings back Guy van Den Vries into the starting XV today.

“They did a job on us at our place and we’ve got to make sure we’re confident, chuck the ball around like we know we can and hopefully score some tries.

“Hartpury have gone on their own run recently, they’re in a rich vein of form as are we. We set ourselves a target earlier this month, so far we’ve kept to that and we’ve got to go down there and do well.

“There’s nothing else to it than going down there and taking the win. We don’t have to worry about winning by a certain margin, it’s simply a case of coming back with the win.”

Mowden had five wins from their first 15 games going into Christmas, but Brown has praised his squad’s response since the New Year, with last week’s win over Esher their fourth in a row.

He said: “We’ve learned a lot from our first 15 games. We had a bit of a sit down and had an honest session, where we should be. We talked about not being naive and the lads have responded well, I couldn’t ask for any more.”

Callum Mackenzie misses out on the trip to Hartbury as he is away, Adam Nixon will drop to the bench with Sam Stuart in at scrum half.

Ralph Appleby comes into the front row with Matt Shields on trial at Premiership side Harlequins, a chance which Brown said Mowden could not stand in his way for.

“It’s a great opportunity, it’s fantastic for the club too. If they’ve got what it takes we’re always going to be positive about it,” said Brown.

Blaydon lost 20-15 at Rosslyn Park and host Loughborough Students, who are just a point below in the league.

Robbie Morris will start at prop for Robbie Kalbraier, Harry Bate will come into the back row and Rory Adamson will start at scrum half.

Nathan Bailey is also fit again at fullback after playing 20 minutes last week, but other than that it will be a similar side to the last few games.

Blaydon president Bill Lock said: “It’s an important game for us. They’re all very important, but along with all the other North-East teams, Mowden Park and Tynedale, we’re all fighting as the season reaches an exciting end.”

North One East sees West Hartlepool host Northern in a mid-table tussle. Stu Waites will return from his second shoulder injury of the season, while top try scorer Sam Miller is also fit again after his own shoulder problems. Otherwise it's the same team which lost against Ilkley last week.

Stockton will attempt to derail Guisborough’s title hopes in Durham and North One when they play their first home league game in seven weeks.

Guisborough, who are a only one point behind league leaders Morpeth, could find it tough against a team intent on putting up a better showing than their last home outing which ended in a 55-12 defeat at Belmangate in mid-October.

Stockton have won their last three games on the road at Darlington, Consett and Blyth this month so seem to be over their December despair when they didn't win a game.

They welcome back Ritchie Brown and Joel Simpson into their three quarters, replacing veteran centre Simon Crozier and teenage winger Matty Routh.

Middlesbrough host North Ribblesdale but they must first beat the weather, with a covering of snow at Acklam Park unlikely to shift overnight.

Middlesbrough are unchanged and should put in a better account of themselves against a Ribb side who beat them in the reverse fixture earlier this season.

Darlington lost 52-7 at struggling Ryton last week and go to third placed Durham City.